HSS Hire Bristol: Traffic Calming the cyclists

Sainsbury's Local is now open in Gloucester Road, so you can "shop locally" without having to go into local shops. Of course, any one who does this will miss out on the pain-au-chocolat which the Bread Store has raised to an art, but sometimes you're in too much of a hurry to queue for them or talk to the staff.

What the new shop does have, and presumably will have the cyclists and students of Bishopston happy, is a contraflow bike lane just next to the shop, here on Elton Road. You can just see it under the HSS Hire van NA09EZJ.

Presumably the driver was worried about cyclists in a hurry endangering these new shoppers, who would be unused to such things, so he has positioned himself for the safety of these pedestrians. The fact that he is wearing hi-viz shows he recognises how cyclists on a the pavement can endanger pedestrians, and how it is important to be visible to them.

The Elton Road Park-out: Official Opening

We've covered the Elton Road double parking area before, the one that, if not occupied by vehicles, would encourage cyclists to use a contraflow lane down to the Zetland Road/A38 Junction.

What we haven't had until "Slug" emailed us, was evidence that this was really a legitimate place to park, and that you wouldn't get persecuted by the parking police for using it. Today we have that.

Council van WM060GP, parked here at 15:05 on April 22, shows is that it is acceptable for the council in our Cycling City to park here, so anyone else should feel free to as well.

Disaster: a politician reveals their real plans

Bristol Graffiti has been quiet recently, so we have to help out on Muller Road, which has multiple vote conservative posters up on it's Shaldon Road advert area. It's clearly not targeted at the locals, who are happy to not only rip off bits of the advert, but write up things on top about giving the saved money to bankers. And they walk there to do it!

This advert is targeted -like the ones at the bearpit- and the motorist stuck on the way to the M32, held up by an anti-car council that refuses to make Muller Road a dual carriageway, refuses to remove the pedestrian crossings further up the road which create all these tailbacks. This party knows their audience: the British Motorist, though it doesn't quite get the message right. Rather than "Let's cut benefit for those who won't work", it should be "let's raise taxes for those who don't drive". That would be better. The Chinese government -communists- subsidise petrol, yet here in the UK we won't even sell it at cost. It's enough to make you vote for the Communist Party of the People's Republic of China, though even in the Bristol West postcodes that got Bristol East ballot papers, these people aren't listed as an option.

But that is not the real issue of today's post. Today's is about a shocking political gaffe by a senior city politician. We aren't going to spell out what he says -you need to listen to what he says. And what he doesn't. He is coming out and showing us which side he and his party is on when it comes down to the greatest issue in the city this week.

This exclusive video shows exactly what enemies we, the out-of-Bristol motor commuter face on our daily drive in, with the M32 traffic jams and the struggle to find a parking space afterwards. We are the victims of these inner-city bigots!

SCOOTing near Zetland Road

We are too lazy to go there ourselves, but Chris Hutt did our bidding and cycled (sorry, we will beat him soundly later!) to get some pictures of the Zetland Road/Gloucester Road nomination for our anti-bicycle awards. First look how this cyclist is riding without a helmet, and to the left of the designated cycling area.

That said, it is kind of ambiguous what bicycles are meant to do at this give way point? Ride, dismount, or get fined by the police. This is the junction where the police were doing exactly that way back in 2008, and it is still an issue at the local PACT meetings.

The cycling rules are clearer at the junction, where you can see the green light saying it is OK to go forwards and onto the A38, hoping the cars coming off Zetland Road aren't turning left towards Cromwell Road at the time.

Which today, at least one car is. Fortunately the cyclist was slow and did not get in the way, as they rarely have third party insurance, and it would be a complicated argument over liability at this junction. Normally if a car hits a bicycle running a light: the bike's fault. But here, the green light says go. So damage to your front bumper might be something you have to pay for yourself.

What say the council? As part of our anti-bicycle awards, we want to make sure the winning feature is not some transient accident which will shortly be fixed, but is in fact a deliberate design decision, implemented according to the plan. It looks good here.

Here is the answer from Adam Crowther, Head of Traffic Signals. 

"The sequence was changed recently to improve capacity thereby reducing the cycle time and reducing delay to pedestrians. We have also introduced SCOOT to better coordinate the signals.

A right turn filter was installed on Zetland Rd so that when the green man at the bottom of Elton Rd runs traffic from Zetland Rd is allowed to turn right - traffic cannot turn left. When the green man goes out traffic from Zetland Rd is allowed to turn right and left.

Cyclists will therefore only be in conflict with traffic from Zetland Rd that is turning right and they will not be in conflict with traffic turning left from Zetland Rd. Although this sounds a bit pedantic cyclists should remain between the studs - although this is not really a good idea as the opposite pavement is too narrow for shared use. Prior to the changes if cyclists turned right from Elton Rd into Zetland Rd they would have been in conflict with the green man. This indicates that the cycle crossing is essentially there to allow cyclists to go inbound on the Gloucester Rd not right into Zetland Rd.

This was a minor change to signal timings so we did not go to TAA as there seemed little point. I can understand that this is not perfect for cyclists but I do not feel it is particularly unsafe as cyclists have good visibility of right turning traffic and can merge in with it.

Signal priorities/sequence changed signs have been erected around the junction to inform people that the sequence has changed.

Whilst in hindsight it would have been beneficial to inform cycle stakeholders of the proposed changes I do not think we would have changed our proposals in any significant way. There are significant benefits to all users of the junction aside possibly from cyclists from Elton Rd. Buses have seen significant improvement in their reliability and after the changes all buses were running on time between the St James Barton roundabout and this junction. Similarly as the capacity has been improved the cycle time is lower and pedestrians experience less delay. It is also likely that rat running will be reduced over time due to the increased capacity. Cyclists have also benefited on most approaches due to the increased capacity and shorter cycle time. In particular the outbound Gloucester Rd movement receives significantly more green time, this is a movement heavily used by cyclists.

I apologise for not informing the cycle stakeholders but we did not consider this a significant change. The benefits to all road users including cyclists are clear. There are no similar signal phasing changes planned in the near future. Let me know if you need any more info.

Thanks,

Adam"

This is wonderful, the best quote yet from one traffic planner who is clearly on our side.

1. It manages to ignore the fact that of the destinations of bicycles coming off Elton Road, into-town is the main one, as anyone heading North would stay in Bishopston until later, on account of the bike lane being full of parked cars, and the pavement also being full of parked cars. 
2. The second option would be up Zetland Road; this is no longer possible as you would cycle across traffic.
3. It notes that prior to the sequence changes, bicycles on the shared bike/pedestrian light would have been in conflict "Prior to the changes if cyclists turned right from Elton Rd into Zetland Rd they would have been in conflict with the green man." -and uses this as justification for the feature. They really don't think anyone should be using this route except to get to the bike park across the road, or to turn left onto Gloucester Road northbound.
4. It states that signing that priorities have changed is sufficient cues of the changes "Signal priorities/sequence changed signs have been erected around the junction to inform people that the sequence has changed.". This is subtle, as the signs don't tell bikes that they can now get run over by traffic coming from the right, yet it is enough of a disclaimer "we put signs up" that the council avoids liability.
5. It argues that bicycles benefit, The benefits to all road users including cyclists are clear., because the cycle time at the junction has decreased. To be explicit, there used to be a longer delay between the period in which it was safe to cross the road, now there is a shorter delay between times you can get run over by passing cars.
6. It reminds bicycle people that they aren't important "we did not consider this a significant change", while clearly implies that the bus companies are in-loop on these decisions.
7. Because they didn't bother involving the bicycle people, it is unlikely that anyone bothered to count the volume of bicycle traffic leaving this junction, or their destinations. It is now too late to do so and make defensible accusations of the number of cyclists who are now at risk, because the feature has been rolled out. Nobody will try turning right into Zetland Road; less people will use the junction at all. 
8. Discouraging people from cycling down the A38 will benefit bus times on a showcase bus route, so bring benefits to FirstBus.

Lovely. The best bits come when you think about cycling city. This contraflow, Elton Road, is the primary route for people from Bishopston, the target cycle city community. This change makes it clear that these people shouldn't think about cycling in, they should use a bus instead. FirstBus 1, bicycle troublemakers 0.

This is a showcase bus route remember? And the council's side of the cycle city funding was to come from dual-counted bus lane improvements as well as s106 building development funds. Which means any costs of this improvement may be something we can bill the bicycles for!

We are hoping to get some feedback from UWE about their feature, to round off the pre-award event. In the meantime, can we thank Redland People for their coverage of our site, but point out that we do not consider ourselves local cyclists. They are missing the point entirely. Yes, some local troublemakers like Chris Hutt may be complaining, but Bristol Traffic? We celebrate the irony of a junction where the police have been fining cyclists for cycling through red lights having the signals changed so that cyclists have to cycle through red lights. We relish even more the delicious thought that not only does this stop anyone from Bishopston, the cycling city target area, wanting to cycle into the city, costs related to this junction may be billable as part of the council's contributions to Cycling City.

If we were cyclists we'd be upset, miffed. Feeling neglected, abandoned and perhaps even disappointed. Maybe even angry. But no, we aren't. We are laughing at the profound difference a bit of signal tweaking can make between making a commute by bike if not pleasant, at least survivable, and making it something where only the brave or the stupid will try and cycle round. We are also over the moon about the implications this has for the council's traffic department, where the cycling officers clearly aren't even involved in these kind of day-to-day decisions, and nor are the councillors.

We shall return to "SCOOT" at some other time, it looks interesting, and have engaged in some discourse with the people at the Transport Research Laboratory on its details. They are not yet scared of us, and are answering politely.

Contra Flows 2

OK, I take it all back.

Contra flows are deadly.

Not because you'll be nailed in a head-on collision with a car doing 30mph, whilst cycling towards it, giving a maximum impact speed approaching 50mph, which is deadly, and probably why our traffic planners don't like the idea.

No, it's because you're likely to be broadsided by a car doing slightly less hitting you from the side, and knocking you into the on-coming traffic.

Whilst most contra-flows suggested by Bristol's cycling fraternity are ignored by Bristol City Council, even though they are completely sensible, easy to implement and obviously obvious, there are some already in place... probably to prove that they shouldn't exist.

Take the one in Elton Road.

It helps cyclists access Gloucester Road from the north-west whilst preventing cars from doing the same. (Let's not dwell on the appalling quality of the public realm in such a vibrant area of Bristol which is now entirely dominated by a 'traffic intersection' of the lowest quality, where pedestrians are given the lowest priority and longest waiting times). No, really. Let's not dwell on that appalling junction. Or whoever conceived it. They have probably retired anyway. Or moved on. Or been sent to Coventry.

Anyway, back to Elton Road. Or more specifically, the interface of the Elton Road cycle contra-flow with Elton Lane.

Imagine the scenario:

You're trying to get to the Prince of Wales on two wheels. Or Maplins if you're out of CD-RWs. Or the Bread Store for a City Loaf and some doughnuts. So you peddle down Elton Road, using the cycle lane contra-flow. It's rush-hour, so there are lots of cars coming towards you (fine so far). But it's rush-hour. So there will always be someone in a BMW looking for a way to jump the queue. But they are only looking one way as they approach the bottom of Elton Lane... at speed, trying to turn right. But they don't look right (they're entering a one-way street and the 'cars' are coming from their left). So they don't look right. At all. Ever. Despite the signs. Because they're going too fast. And they are in a car. Which is safe.

Well, I've got good brakes, and luckily my children were behind me.

This time.

(Aside: Moi? Judgmental of Bristol traffic engineers? And Urban Designers? Never)

Bishopston Enforcement Priorities

Bishopston. Site of the infamous Gloucester Road bicycle enforcement program. It is also near to Elton Road, where the need for residents to park forces them to double park in front of the entrance to the Elton Road bike lane, as these cars X393DMR and V885EYA have done.

Some people -and we know who they are- have expressed concern that it is somewhat hypocritical for the police to enforce pavement cycling at one end of a road when it is not possible to use the road option due to the car lane in the way. These people are also of the suspicion that it is the probably the same people who park this way that attend the local PACT meetings and push the anti-cycling agenda, one which -correctly, in our opinion- tries to prevent bicycles from using either the road or the pavement.

Indeed, the spring newsletter from the Bristol Cycling Campaign, contains an article on the PACT meetings which does say these things, highlighting the difference between the Kingsdown PACT area -police stopping cars driving the wrong way down Nugent hill- with the Bishopston PACT area -say no to bicycles-. The article finishes with a call to action to attend the PACT meetings, and after infiltrating the meetings, steering the police away from the Evening Post's approved agenda to one that tries to support cycling city through police enforcement of anti-car rules.

Is the attempt by those subversives working? Well, If you look at the latest Bishopsworth PACT priorities, you can see that they are trying to have their way -but failing.

1. Inconsiderate cycling - Gloucester Road (A38)
   

   Request to continue action to promote safe cycling on Gloucester Road, particularly the junctions with Ashley Down Road and Sommerville Road, where failing to stop at red lights has been identified as a danger. (Also requested to continue action against cycling on the pavement and cycling at night no lights).
   PCSO Faulkner will conduct two operations a month on Gloucester Road to issue safety advice, educate cyclists about offences, issue ASB forms and prosecute if necessary.

2. Vehicle offences - Tortworth Road (parking, tax disks, contraflowing)
   
3. Obstruction of cycle routes - Gloucester Road (A38)
   

   Cyclists and residents requesting that the Gloucester Road cycle route, a main arterial route into the city, is kept free of parked vehicles. Parked vehicles obstruct the cycle route, making the route redundant and increasing the risk of cyclists being involved in collisions with moving vehicles.
   PCSO Faulkner to conduct a one hour daily patrol on Gloucester Road at varying times, ensure that the cycle route is kept clear and issue tickets for 'failing to comply with indication given by a traffic sign namely a cycle route sign' or 'unnecessary obstruction of a cycle route' if a cyclist is seen to be obstructed.

They also note that the cycle enforcement has been successful:

Response from the public has been positive with coverage in the Evening Post.

It looks like the bicycle subversives tried to infiltrate the PACT meeting. Fortunately, enough residents managed to attend to achieve some kind of balanced enforcement on Gloucester Road, and no mention of the bike routes that carry bicycles to and from the A38, which can stay as resident parking. No doubt the next edition of the Bristol Cycling Campaign newsletter will contain more subversive propaganda, more calls to action urging in the Bishopston area -which is clearly becoming a flash point in the clash between car+walk and bicycling citizens.

But look at this video. This family negotiating the parked cars on their Saturday morning Gloucester Road chocolate croissant run do not have any difficulties.

They just swing out in the oncoming traffic lane before curving in to the bicycle contraflow area. If the mother at front felt that these cars were somehow endangering her children, she would be driving them round to the Saturday out-of-school engagements, rather than trying to cycle around the city. The presence of families negotiating this route by bike shows that there is no hazard, and that the focus of Bishopston enforcement should be bicycles on pavements on Gloucester Road.

Bishopston says no to bicycles!

Align and Commit

It may seem that these cars are double parking in front of a bike lane, and certainly there is a bike lane just behind, in Elton Road, which now has a google street view, one which forever documents this parking option.

If you look closely, you will see they are not blocking bicycles. The clio PE05CUH has positioned itself perfectly to stop cars turning into the one-way street, so avoiding the problems which plague Nugent Hill. It has put enough of a gap between it and the BMW parked alongside for a bike to get through.

It would be tight, because your handlebars need to get through the gap between the two wing-mirrors, which rules out ultra-wide MTB handlebars. MTB bars would still be recommended though, as after you get past the cars you will either need to bunny hop over the kerb build-out or zig-zag round the corner tightly. This will make the commute into town more entertaining for anyone, yet as they are parked cars, far less hazardous than having to deal with oncoming vehicles giving you the same amount of room, which is what you would get if you went through Montpelier in the morning rush hour.

This is not Monty, it is Bishopston; the part of town where the local residents have been successfully campaigning for the council to do something about inconsiderate cycling. Do be careful then, when solving this "problem" by hopping the kerb, that there are no PCSOs around to ticket you for abusing the pavement.

Doubling up in Bishopston

A nice little email from "KB" turns up to look at this pair of cars, TG05TOM and YE56YUG that apparently double park regularly on Elton Road, Bishopston. They aren't interfering with left-turning cars, because it's a one way road: no left turn.

The apparent problem here is that little buildout you see in the right of the picture. It is not, as one might think, a pedestrian crossing. It's a contraflow for bikes, and with the two cars parked here, there is no way to enter the contraflow. This may be a bit inconvenient.

But where does the contraflow go? Gloucester Road. At the infamous Gloucester Road/Zetland Road junction where the police now come out and ticket cyclists who cycle on the pavement and through red lights. And how does this cycle contraflow end? With a pavement route followed by a green light to cycle while the pedestrians get the little man. If you could cycle down here, you would end up doing both the activities that the police were stamping down on. These cars are parking where they are for the sake of the cyclists, not themselves.